Well.... IF you are a person that has come to the USA from a country that was ruled with an Iron Fist, I could see the concern! IF you are and IF you are terrified of authority figures, I appologize to you then! BTW, I am educated, I went to Choo- Choo U!!

Unfortunately, that's exactly where I come from: the Soviet Union. I wish I could change my past.

As to the "educated person" comment, just to make it clear, I was not referring to anybody on this forum except Allen. To make it even clearer, all I said is that Allen is an educated person - I DID NOT say or imply in any way that somebody is stupid. Moreover, uneducated doesn't necessarily mean stupid or dumb.

To make it even clearer, all I said is that Allen is an educated person

But you did imply that since he agreed with you that he is therefore educated which leads to the conclusion that since folks don't agree with you, they are uneducated. Do you know Allen's educational background compared with everyone else's to make an informed decision regarding his education?

Sorry, but whether you intended it or not, it's a slap to those who disagree with you...

Hmmmm...I consider myself a "very educated person" but since I disagree with your point of view, that means I'm dumb? Fail...

I don't have an opinion or a point of view as of yet... Honestly, I agree with both sides, that's why I never sent the letter and started to take pictures again. Please refer to my previous post for details.

P.S. I referred to Allen as "an educated person" not because he seemed to be supportive (which is questionable) - that would be preposterous - but because he seemed to be able to see the big picture based solely on the spelling of my name. I don't think that I have to remind anybody that most of the people on this forum are not only educated and smart, but are simply great (regardless of whether or not they agree with my point of view).

I am coming to this very late - and have not even read every entry in here, but felt the need to add my two cents for two reasons - 1) my grandmother came from the Soviet Union and gave me some perspective of how one's view of authority figures was skewed by that experience, and 2) I have been stopped for shooting pictures of trains countless times both before and since 9/11 in many different countries and have had many different levels of interactions regarding it.

And my overall advice is - don't let it get to you. I know... pretty simplistic statement, but here's the thing, no matter what, the person who stopped you isn't thinking about it anymore. It's out of their mind. So you've got to let it go from yours. Enjoy your hobby.

And do realize, this is the USA... sure, you might meet a bully cop here or there, or a jerk rent-a-cop, but 99% of the LEO out there are good people trying to do the right thing. There's no KGB and any conspiracy theorist is just that... and all of the screaming you hear about our rights being trampled on... well, think about it, we're in a country where we get to scream that, so it's okay... we're pretty safe.

And it will happen again. You will be stopped again. Next time may go very easy, or may not. Nowadays, I have my radar up at all times. If I sense I'm being watched, I actually tend to leave because I don't want to be stopped. I don't like the confrontation.

But if it happens anyway, I'm polite as all get out. I just explain what I'm doing. I never mention rights or law unless the officer/guard incorrectly says that what I am doing is illegal. And even then, I stay polite and let them know that they are incorrect, but that I'm happy to move on, because I'm not looking for a confrontation. I will let them know that I will be seeking confirmation of their position from their supervisor because we are in a disagreement as to what the law is. But I stay polite, and in the end, I don't let it stop me from enjoying my hobby.

Finally, a brief story, which I may be repeating... about four years ago, I'm at the Montebello train station, which is actually posted "Platforms are for ticketed Metrolink passengers only." This means I'm really trespassing, I guess, but I'm there on a Sunday when Metrolink doesn't run. Suddenly, a police car guns itself towards me... high speed, swerves to a stop, feet from where I am. Cop jumps out of the car. He strides towards me. I sputter out, "I... I... just shooting train pictures..." He keeps going... puts a quarter in the newspaper machine... looks back at me and says "Huh?" I say my line again. He looks at me like, "why are you telling me this?" Takes his newspaper, gets back in his police car, and races off.

Finally, a brief story, which I may be repeating... about four years ago, I'm at the Montebello train station, which is actually posted "Platforms are for ticketed Metrolink passengers only." This means I'm really trespassing, I guess, but I'm there on a Sunday when Metrolink doesn't run. Suddenly, a police car guns itself towards me... high speed, swerves to a stop, feet from where I am. Cop jumps out of the car. He strides towards me. I sputter out, "I... I... just shooting train pictures..." He keeps going... puts a quarter in the newspaper machine... looks back at me and says "Huh?" I say my line again. He looks at me like, "why are you telling me this?" Takes his newspaper, gets back in his police car, and races off.

P.S. I referred to Allen as "an educated person" not because he seemed to be supportive (which is questionable) - that would be preposterous - but because he seemed to be able to see the big picture based solely on the spelling of my name. I don't think that I have to remind anybody that most of the people on this forum are not only educated and smart, but are simply great (regardless of whether or not they agree with my point of view).

IUGANDA ... you gave me much too much credit with interpreting your 'name'.

As far as people being educated or not on this forum ... who cares what level of education we all share. Are we having fun? Can we learn from each other? Responses from one person to another based on just what we see posted can be misplaced, misunderstood, or just plain wrong. Thick skin and patience always helps communication. Here, apparently I somewhat lucked out -- on this one. Which is why I generally try and just lurk... I can't get into too much trouble that way.

Last edited by A Siebold; 03-21-2009 at 05:10 PM.
Reason: multiple post

P.S. I referred to Allen as "an educated person" not because he seemed to be supportive (which is questionable) - that would be preposterous - but because he seemed to be able to see the big picture based solely on the spelling of my name. I don't think that I have to remind anybody that most of the people on this forum are not only educated and smart, but are simply great (regardless of whether or not they agree with my point of view).

IUGANDA ... you gave me much too much credit with interpreting your 'name'.

As far as people being educated or not on this forum ... who cares what level of education we all share. Are we having fun? Can we learn from each other? Responses from one person to another based on just what we see posted can be misplaced, misunderstood, or just plain wrong. Thick skin and patience always helps communication. Here, apparently I somewhat lucked out -- on this one. Which is why I generally try and just lurk... I can't get into too much trouble that way.

Hey Chris, chill! Way back on March 12th, 10 days ago!, post #53, iuganda moved on, he didn't send the letter, he is taking pictures again. Why haven't you moved on?

Did I overreact? Of course I did! Sorry about that. Not gonna happen again. I love my hobby and I'm not going to give it up. And I'm not as thin-skinned as some of you may think - teaching at the same public school for eight years means something after all (and no, I don't teach drama LOL) I teach science.

Thank you very much for the info - I already printed out the letter to Tri-Rail and I will be mailing it on Monday.
I also printed out the pamphlet and I will make sure that next time whoever wants to get my info will read it first.

Just my 2 cents here.......... First of all, you are playing on their turf, so try to play by their rules as long as they are not a rights violation like Andrew did when asked to move. In my opinion, the letter will not reach any higher than a 9-5 secretary who cares nothing about you or your hobby and will likely end up in the circular file with no positive results other than to maybe piss off someone. I have been questioned, threatened, pulled over and have even had back-up called on me. Lifes tuff, I guess, but this is a non issue in my book. Just chill and toss the letter. It will serve you no purpose at all. I realize this is after the fact and I am glad you diod not send the letter

I am coming to this very late - and have not even read every entry in here, but felt the need to add my two cents for two reasons - 1) my grandmother came from the Soviet Union and gave me some perspective of how one's view of authority figures was skewed by that experience, and 2) I have been stopped for shooting pictures of trains countless times both before and since 9/11 in many different countries and have had many different levels of interactions regarding it.

And my overall advice is - don't let it get to you. I know... pretty simplistic statement, but here's the thing, no matter what, the person who stopped you isn't thinking about it anymore. It's out of their mind. So you've got to let it go from yours. Enjoy your hobby.

And do realize, this is the USA... sure, you might meet a bully cop here or there, or a jerk rent-a-cop, but 99% of the LEO out there are good people trying to do the right thing. There's no KGB and any conspiracy theorist is just that... and all of the screaming you hear about our rights being trampled on... well, think about it, we're in a country where we get to scream that, so it's okay... we're pretty safe.

And it will happen again. You will be stopped again. Next time may go very easy, or may not. Nowadays, I have my radar up at all times. If I sense I'm being watched, I actually tend to leave because I don't want to be stopped. I don't like the confrontation.

But if it happens anyway, I'm polite as all get out. I just explain what I'm doing. I never mention rights or law unless the officer/guard incorrectly says that what I am doing is illegal. And even then, I stay polite and let them know that they are incorrect, but that I'm happy to move on, because I'm not looking for a confrontation. I will let them know that I will be seeking confirmation of their position from their supervisor because we are in a disagreement as to what the law is. But I stay polite, and in the end, I don't let it stop me from enjoying my hobby.

Finally, a brief story, which I may be repeating... about four years ago, I'm at the Montebello train station, which is actually posted "Platforms are for ticketed Metrolink passengers only." This means I'm really trespassing, I guess, but I'm there on a Sunday when Metrolink doesn't run. Suddenly, a police car guns itself towards me... high speed, swerves to a stop, feet from where I am. Cop jumps out of the car. He strides towards me. I sputter out, "I... I... just shooting train pictures..." He keeps going... puts a quarter in the newspaper machine... looks back at me and says "Huh?" I say my line again. He looks at me like, "why are you telling me this?" Takes his newspaper, gets back in his police car, and races off.